"Last year it seemed like we talked about our potential, but now it's actually starting to show up in the results," said senior Morgan Commander, who placed second in the backstroke and eighth in the 200 free relay.

Monarch recorded a third-place finish with 525 points, ending the meet in striking distance of No. 2 Boulder (599), although no one touched runaway winner Fairview.

Sophomore Claudia Flores had a solid meet for the Coyotes, finishing fourth in the butterfly and sixth in the 200 freestyle. Senior Mandy Frazier was eighth in the 100 freestyle.

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"As a team we're a lot stronger," Coyotes coach Ted Romero said. "We have some great seniors this year with Morgan, Amanda, Elise (Kinney) and Mandy. Having that type of leadership makes a big difference."

Monarch finished second in the meet's opening event, the 200 medley relay, and added a third-place tally in the 200 free relay. In the medley relay, Fairview anchor Jessie Li surged to the finish to edge Kinney by a nose.

The Knights won the relay 1:52.77 to 1:52.88.

With the meet taking place in early January, many swimmers weren't in peak form after the holiday break and no meet records were broken. Sanders came close in the breaststroke, with her 1:05.31 only 1.08 seconds shy of the mark set by Fairview's Kourtney Fosse in 2011.

Sanders finished second to Boulder's Haley Rowley in the 200 IM.

"I was pleased for the most part," Sanders said. "I'm happy with my breast. I would have liked a little more out of my IM, but I'm not upset about it."

Commander was thrilled with her No. 2 placing in the backstroke, saying: "It feels good considering I didn't even make it to the final heat last year."

Sanders said the overall dearth of record-threatening times was partly rooted in that year-round swimmers often increase their yardage over the winter break. It aids endurance but doesn't foster standout times.

That had no bearing on the divers, as Newell (387.10) and Magness (366.15) blew away the field.

Of note, Centaurus sophomore Aveline Marshall finished fifth in the 200 freestyle. It was the top finish for the Warriors, who placed sixth.